A quantitative assay of biologically important compounds in simulated primitive Earth experiments.

A CH4-N2-H2OV gas mixture was subjected to a high voltage (20 kV), high frequency (0.3 MHz) electric discharge. The energy input in the electric discharge was varied from 0.016 to 3.048 MJ mol-1. The chemical yields (G), expressed as the number of molecules formed or destroyed per 100 eV of energy input were calculated for several products. The G values calculated at the lowest energy input were (-CH4) = 6.48; (-N2) = 2.51; (C2H2) = 1.16; (HCN) = 0.215; (CH3CHO) = 0.115; (CH3CH2CHO) = 0.00161; (CH3(CH2)2CHO) = 0.0165; ((CH2CO2H)2) = 0.0000339; (CH4 --> Solid material) = 0.196; (N2 --> Solid material) = 0.00355. This is the first report in prebiotic studies in which the G values of various products in electric discharge experiments are determined. This type of study is needed in order to get a better insight into the relative role of electric discharges on the primitive Earth.     

Computer program prior used for orbit determination at the Ondřejov observatory

The computer program used mainly for determination of orbits of the Interkosmos satellites is described. Examples of results are given for Geos B and Interkosmos 17 satellites.     

Dynamic and figure parameters of Venus and Mars

Parameters of the best-fitting tri-axial ellipsoids representing external equipotential surfaces of Venus and Mars have been determined from satellite data. The dynamic consequence of the equatorial flattening of Venus has been discussed from the point of view of the s.c. synodic resonance rotation. The major gravitational anomalies of Venus have been interpreted, space locations and magnitudes of anomalous masses determined and their contribution to the second zonal Stokes' constant in the gravitational potential computed. The conclusions were done: The figure of the aphroditoid is strange even if there is a relatively small polar flattening; an equatorial “disc” of Venus is enormous. Recent space data do not support hypothesis that the Earth controls the spin of Venus.     

An estimation of the cooling process by infrared radiation in the atmosphere

Two procedure are presented for quantitative estimation of cloud cover (N), type of clouds (C), as well as base of clouds (C_b) and top of clouds (C^t) by using radiosonde data as well as satellite cloud pictures and radiation data. The data obtained in this way can be used as input data in the model for the estimation of the vertical profile of longwave radiative cooling.     

Fast intelligent battery charging: neural-fuzzy approach

This paper focuses on the design of a super fast battery charger based on National's proprietary neural network based NeuFuz technology. In this application, we have used a NiCd battery pack as the test vehicle. However, this technology can be extended to other chemistries such as Ni-MH, Li-ion, etc. This technology allows the designer to accurately model the charge controller using a neural network, based on battery charge characteristics provided by the manufacturer. This approach continuously monitors the battery status, and modifies the charge current accordingly. It also eliminates the need for standard charge termination methods used in today's conventional chargers. The result is super fast charging in 20 to 30 minutes, and increased battery life. A low cost embedded controller (COP8) performs all the fuel-gauging and charge control functions by processing data obtained from the battery circuitry     

Cometary probe of the Venera-Halley mission

Venera-Halley mission is to be launched to Venus in Dec. 1984. It will fly by Venus in June 1985. Separation of the cometary probe and Venera descend module will take place at that time. The gravitational swing-by at Venus will provide the encounter with the Halley comet in March 1986. The remote sensing of the inner coma (TV-imagery, spectrometry in the region from 1200 A to 12 μm, polarimetry) and of the nucleus, direct measurements of dust fluxes, dust composition, plasma and magnetic field are planned in the framework of multinational cooperation.     

Application of the method of potentials in problems of fracture mechanics

The theory of generalized elastic potentials is used for solving the problem of a space with cracks of arbitrary shape. Two solutions are proposed. In the first case, the solution is represented by a double-layer potential and a functional equation for determination of the unknown density is constructed in which difficulties stipulated by high polarity of the integrand may be eliminated. The other method consists of an analysis of a space with a thin smooth cavity and the solution of corresponding singular integral equations.Methods to improve the convergence of successive approximations used in solution of the equations are described and some particular cases of three-dimensional solids are considered. A special function is introduced on the external surface of the solid, which allows consideration of a whole space with cracks having fictitious stresses on their edges; this solution has some bearing on the main problem and also provides an integral equation for the auxiliary function. Another approach consists of the elimination of cracks by introduction of corresponding potentials and solution of the auxiliary problem for a continuous solid with special boundary conditions.     

Establishing satellite data bases in developing countries: A critical view

Remote sensing is a data gathering and analysis technique that offers the possibility of natural resource evaluation. Countries that have not yet evaluated their main resources owing to the lack of basic knoweldge of their territory, are attracted by the idea of rapidly creating data banks through the use of remote sensing. While such a technique offers advantages over traditional means of data acquisition, it requires special systems and methods of analysis that are not particularly easy to assimilate. The building of data bases is taken here as the framework for analyzing some problems confronted by developing countries when trying to incorporate the techniques of teledetection.     

Optimization of aerodynamic efficiency for twist morphing MAV wing

Twist morphing(TM) is a practical control technique in micro air vehicle(MAV) flight.However, TM wing has a lower aerodynamic efficiency(CL/CD) compared to membrane and rigid wing. This is due to massive drag penalty created on TM wing, which had overwhelmed the successive increase in its lift generation. Therefore, further CL/CDmaxoptimization on TM wing is needed to obtain the optimal condition for the morphing wing configuration. In this paper, two-way fluid–structure interaction(FSI) simulation and wind tunnel testing method are used to solve and study the basic wing aerodynamic performance over(non-optimal) TM, membrane and rigid wings. Then,a multifidelity data metamodel based design optimization(MBDO) process is adopted based on the Ansys-DesignXplorer frameworks. In the adaptive MBDO process, Kriging metamodel is used to construct the final multifidelity CL/CDresponses by utilizing 23 multi-fidelity sample points from the FSI simulation and experimental data. The optimization results show that the optimal TM wing configuration is able to produce better CL/CDmaxmagnitude by at least 2% than the non-optimal TM wings. The flow structure formation reveals that low TV strength on the optimal TM wing induces low CDgeneration which in turn improves its overall CL/CDmaxperformance.